A new version of the Nvidia GTX 1050 graphics card is in the works and will be released soon by Gigabyte -- and probably other manufacturers shortly afterwards. The new card will actually increase performance a little, by adding an extra gigabyte of RAM to the GPU and boosting the core's power too, helping to bridge the gap between the standard GTX 1050 and the 1050 Ti, which offers performance much closer to that of a GTX 1060.
The specifications for the new Gigabyte GTX 1050 OC 3G are as follows:
- Process: 16nm
- CUDA Cores: 768
- Core clock: 1,582MHz when boosted
- Memory Size: 3GB
- Memory Bus: 96bit
- Outputs: Dual-link DVI-D, HDMI 2.0b, DisplayPort 1.4
- Supports: DirectX12, OpenGL 4.5
If you scrutinized those specifications closely, you may have noticed that the memory bus is only 96bit, which is a noticeable reduction from the standard GTX 1050's 128bit bus. That may equate to a minor performance dip in some scenarios, but for the most part the added gigabyte of GDDR5 will make a bigger difference to your gaming output.
Elsewhere, the addition of new CUDA cores (768 vs 640 on the standard GTX 1050) and an increase in clock speed by around 70Mhz when boosted, should help improve frame rates by a few points, making for smoother and prettier gaming experiences.
No word on pricing or availability as of yet, but since the card has appeared on Gigabyte's official site, we'd expect it to show up at retailers in the near future, likely with a price tag of around $150.
